When I imagined Mongolia before traveling there this summer with my girlfriend Tanya, I thought of gers, nomads, and wide open spaces; I imagined a country unchanged by time. In reality, just 15 years into their new democratic, capitalist way of life, Mongolia is a country in transition. Mongolians are truly embracing the modern, yet holding on to their traditional lifestyles and proud history. It’s an exciting time to visit Mongolia as it tries to find the right balance for the future.

When the bitter Japanese winter hits, it is tempting to slip under the kotatsu and, stocked up with enough mochi, green tea and copies of “The Daily Yomiuri” to see us through till mid-March, hit ‘hibernation’ on the body clock. For those of you swaying towards a spot of just such indulgent isolation, a little word of warning – the fierce weather does nothing to dissuade either the NHK man or the Jehovah’s Witnesses from their regular calls so sooner or later you will be dragged begrudgingly from your seasonal slumber. With that in mind, why not make the best of the cold weather and hit the slopes instead? Hiroshima has a plethora of snow-parks, many of which are within easy reach of the city by public bus. But which to choose? Wide Island View solicited the advice of one of Japan’s top snowboarders to find out where best to head for a good day’s adrenalin-pumping downhill action:

It’s certainly a popular destination for JETs and everyone else! So what does Thailand have to offer? Well, for a start, its reputation as a cultural highlight is well-deserved. It’s also a great introduction to South-East Asia, offering both a well-travelled backpacker trail and other destinations that are well off the beaten path. Besides, where else can you stay in a 4-star hotel for less than the cost of a mid-range here in Japan?

Looking outside during a Japanese autumn, nobody can fail to be impressed by the exceptionally beautiful rainbow of colours seeping from the trees as the countryside prepares itself for the onset of winter. Japanese people, resident foreigners and tourists alike all look forward to this annual display of nature at its very best and many people travel great distances to see the leaves at their various stages of transformation.